Italy: A Century Old

One hundred years ago, Carlo Loren-zini found himself light on cash and
heavy on gambling debts. Driven to action, the 54-year-old civil
servant-turned-writer concocted a tale about a wooden marionette and
sold the first chapter to a children's newspaper, reportedly describing
the story as "a little nonsense." By the 15th installment, the author
was no longer harried by financial troubles and decided to seal his
hero's fate by having him hanged by a devious fox and cat. But popular
outrage quickly compelled...